Codeine addiction!! Help/advice

[Looby17]

So I've been addicted to codeine for years, at least 10. Currently, I'm on about 600mg each day! Been at this level for about 2 years, very rarely feel anything from it just keeps me normal!

its at the stage now where its consuming my life, until I have my box of pills secure in my hand, I can't think of anything else! I need and want to stop, and I'm so struggling with this!

I've tried tapering, but I just can't stick to it, I'll start off well but then end up increasing again over the course of it! So now I'm at the point where I feel I need outside help! Anyone had experiences of this length of addiction at the doses I'm on? What sort of treatment would help?

My friend gave me a couple of strips of methadone tabs, 5mg. Reckon I could take a low dose of that over a few weeks to try and wean myself off the crazy amounts of codeine? I've had these for about a month but too scared to try that! Or is it best to seek professional help?

 

[zebedee79]

If it's an option, then I highly recommend you seek professional help. I'm currently struggling to kick a heroin addiction and I started out the same as you, on èver increasing doses of codeine. The problem with using the methadone tabs to quit yourself without help is that there's a high chance that your gonna get addicted to a much stronger opiate. Like you said, tapering yourself with codeine takes alot of willpower, it'll be the same for the methadone. Plus if you get the dosages wrong with done, your likely to end up in a coma or worse. I know things can seem hopeless, but trust me, deal with the problem now rather than later, the longer you leave it the harder it'll be. There's no easy way out of this, be prepared to go through some pain, but do something. Don't ignore it and hope it'll sort itself out.

Your first step is to admit your problem, either to friends/family or if that's not possible then maybe your doctor. If you don't feel comfortable with that then try Narcotics Anonymous (it's certainly not for everyone, but some people find it very helpful ). Whatever you deside then good luck (you'll need it) but it's not hopeless, and you can beat this thing. Stay positive

Zeb

 

[elviswearsnikes]

Thanks for sharing your story.

It sounds like you have a long history of abusing codeine with ever increasing dosages that correlate with your increasing tolerance. The good news fella is that you can stop and change, but it is not going to be easy.

I'm not saying that to discourage you, quite the opposite... You can do it but I honestly believe you will be a lot more successful if you reach out for help... Family, loved-ones, close friends as well as professionals working in the field of addiction and recovery.

I am going to agree with the previous poster and advise extreme caution with the substitution of other opiates, particularly methadone, and especially if your managing your own dosages and frequency.

Dealing with your physical dependency is just one aspect of addiction, however, to recover necessitates looking deeper into your problem and involves elements of personal development.

If you access professional help you should receive an individualised care plan, advice and support for opiate prescribing and will be sign-posted to other services such as in-patient detoxification and rehabilitation, group work, one-to-one support and mutual aid organisations such as NA (narcotics anonymous).

What I am trying to say is dealing with your physical dependency to codeine is just one factor but you are unlikely to stay clean unless you deal with the multifactorial nature of your addiction and recovery.

The fact that you are asking for advice to stop suggests that you are aware you have a problem and want to do something about it. It's an important first step so well done!

Surround yourself with positive people and loved-ones, but I personally believe that professional help and support is invaluable in the treatment of addiction.

Stay strong!

 

[Erikmen]

Welcome to BL Looby!

I'm sorry to hear your going through a tough time. I agree that you should seek for help.
You are the only one who can help yourself but others will help you achieve your goals.
I believe you started looking for help by visiting Blue Light.

Just a suggestion. Don't mean to judge or interfere:
About Methadone; it's meant to treat addiction to opiates when nothing else works. It's way stronger than codeine. And it should be controlled by doctors/clinics.
IMO you don't need such a strong medication as it can make your life even worse.
Methadone has a long lifetime in your bloodstream.
Besides it's really difficult to quit as the withdrawals are terrible.

Wish you the best of luck!
Erik

 

[Invisible Helper]

I agree with erikmen ... I've been IV h for 3 years I've tried methadon 2 times on the street (very low dose like 15 mg) never even really taken the drug to be honest cause I'm scared of it, to have a nod last that long I just couldn't deal with that it's too powerful they call it liquid handcuffs cause it cuffs you its twice as long as a kick over codeine maybe even 2.5-3 times if I were u try get subuxone I don't know what country you're in. Worst case scenario with subuxone is also similar to methadon but it's not something you'd seek to abuse it'll help kick but I feel cold turkey is the way to go even when I have subs idk I know a lot about subs but don't have much experience myself cause I'm scared of being addicted to that always better to kick short half life opiate in my opinion . Get benzos dude any kind and lots of weed and movies and video games to play and porn and be ready to say it's okay to take 3-4 baths a day if needed have ibuprofen and go for it man if u don't do that professional help, if you don't do that kicking in jail, if not that kicking on the streets alone sick so make up your mind I know it's hard I'm stuck too mayn and I'm the one giving advice ... That's the saddest part about opiate addiction .